Summary of "Top 15 Longest Fantasy Series of All Time"
Framing: a “Quest” by Total Word Count
The video is framed like a “quest” to rank the longest fantasy series ever written—measured not by number of books, but by total word count. The host repeatedly emphasizes that fantasy “bricks” aren’t only long; they’re time-consuming commitments that build attachment to characters and the world.
Standout Entries and Why They’re Notable
The Dresden Files (Jim Butcher)
- Begins an ongoing urban fantasy run.
- By Book 18, it’s around 2.3 million words (with the host noting they had to manually verify the figure).
- The host highlights the series’ quality growth over time.
- Mentions Butcher’s plan to end around 25 books, including a concluding trilogy.
Redwall (Brian Jacques)
- Nostalgic and warmly received.
- The host reflects on childhood time spent with the abbey and Mossflower Woods.
- Praises the food descriptions.
- Notes the series remains highly readable even now.
Dragonriders of Pern (Anne McCaffrey, with Todd McCaffrey)
- Treated as a “genre bender” despite being sci-fi/fantasy-adjacent.
- The host credits its major influence on later dragon-rider tropes:
- Suggests it predates modern conventions.
- Popularized the idea of dragons as companions with a rider bond.
- Acknowledges co-authorship in later installments.
Sword of Truth (Terry Goodkind)
- Presented as both a word-count titan and a controversy magnet.
- The host stresses the books are known for:
- Extremely long monologues
- Heavy philosophy and politics
- The host avoids recommending it due to reported problematic content and author reputation.
- Still notes mainstream success and the TV adaptation (Legend of the Seeker).
Malazan: Book of the Fallen (Steven Erikson)
- Described with awe and intensity—fantasy “on hard mode.”
- Character/POV sprawl plus dense history and metaphysics.
- Even includes surreal elements (e.g., talking toads and “crippled gods”).
- Clarifies word-count scope:
- Counts only Erikson’s core ten-book saga
- Not the broader shared-universe expansion
Saga of Recluse (L.E. Modesitt Jr.)
- “Hard to research” because word counts aren’t readily available.
- Word totals are estimated based on typical novel length.
- Multi-generational premise centered on tension between order and chaos across eras.
Discworld (Terry Pratchett)
- Praised as the funniest “dense” entry.
- 41 novels, one cohesive world, but not one continuous epic plot.
- More like interconnected mini-series (e.g., City Watch, witches, Death).
- Called a fantasy buffet that secretly satirizes real-world issues.
- Strong argument that it’s accessible despite the volume.
Realm of the Elderlings (Robin Hobb)
- The emotional centerpiece.
- Slow-burn intimacy and deep attachment to characters.
- Focus on how hard the series makes grief, friendships, trauma, and betrayals hit.
- Spans multiple sub-trilogies/series, totaling around 3.8 million words.
Shannara (Terry Brooks)
- Framed as an overlooked mega-saga with historic influence.
- Initially Lord of the Rings–inspired, later developing its own identity.
- Mentions a TV adaptation, but notes it’s discussed less now.
Rift War Cycle (Raymond E. Feist)
- Praised for fun, generational continuity, and expansive scope.
- Built around rifts between worlds enabling portal warfare and cosmic-scale politics.
Xanth (Piers Anthony)
- Handled with warnings.
- Notes length and whimsical wordplay, but refuses adult recommendation due to:
- Reports of problematic sexual content
- Misogyny/toxic themes
- Example title: The Color of Her Panties
Wheel of Time (Robert Jordan, completed by Brandon Sanderson)
- Endorsed as “definitive epic fantasy.”
- Massive word totals (~4.4 million).
- Slow-burn character arcs and a detailed magic/political system.
- Farm-boy-to-legend trajectory across 15 books.
Legend of Drizzt (R.A. Salvatore)
- Nostalgic and personal.
- The host loves Drizzt’s loneliness/melancholy from living longer than friends.
- Praises iconic companionship, including astral panther Guenhwyvar.
- Word count is estimated due to lack of definitive totals.
Cosmere (Brandon Sanderson)
- Treated as a universe, not a single series.
- Emphasizes one author with interlinked threads.
- Predicts it could become enormous:
- Stormlight already makes up about half the current word count.
Valdemar (Mercedes Lackey)
- Another universe-scale entry.
- Described as emotionally driven and spanning millennia.
- Features herald-magic bonded companions.
The Wandering Inn (Pirate Abbot)
- The biggest modern “respect” moment.
- A web serial nearing ~15 million words, still ongoing.
- The host marvels at the sheer volume and compares it humorously:
- “Multiple times Wheel of Time”
- Far beyond Harry Potter
Multi-Author Universes (Widening the Scope)
Dragonlance
- Classic D&D-style quest fantasy with many authors.
- Estimated roughly at tens of millions of words.
Forgotten Realms
- Treated as the ultimate multi-author heavyweight.
- 300+ novels and estimated total of roughly 30–40 million words.
Jokes, Reactions, and Tone
- Recurring exaggerations like:
- “this could be a weapon”
- “TBR expanding”
- Playful comparisons:
- Discworld as a fantasy buffet
- Malazan as fantasy on hard mode
- The Wandering Inn as a hat-off respect moment
- Some entries are balanced with caution, especially:
- Xanth
- Sword of Truth
- Where the discussion shifts from “look how long” to “be aware of content issues.”
Overall “Winner” Logic
- Single-author winner: The Wandering Inn (Pirate Abbot) — by total word count.
- Multi-author universe winner: Forgotten Realms (D&D world) — by breadth of books and authors.
Mentioned Personalities (Authors/Creators)
- Jim Butcher
- Brian Jacques
- Anne McCaffrey, Todd McCaffrey
- Michael R. Miller
- Blake and Raven Penn
- Terry Goodkind
- Steven Erikson
- L.E. Modesitt Jr.
- Terry Pratchett
- Robin Hobb
- Terry Brooks
- Raymond E. Feist
- Piers Anthony
- Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
- R.A. Salvatore
- Mercedes Lackey
- Pirate Abbot
- Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman
Mentioned but not included in the main fantasy list:
- D&D / Forgotten Realms overall, plus references to Warhammer 40k and Star Wars expanded universe.
Category
Entertainment
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